Round Walk- (Leura Cascades Loop)

This is a short walk out from the beautiful Leura Park. The walk heads past cliffs, the cascades, large ferns and even a historic bridge. The walk is a great one to do between meals at a picnic. Leura Cascades themselves are a great set of waterfalls, and worth taking the camera for.

Leura Cascades Picnic Area

Leura Cascades Picnic area is a open picnic area beside Cliff Drive, with Leura Cascades Creek running through the middle. There are a number of small cascades in the park, along with toilets and picnic tables. There are a few information signs and maps of the area. The park is well remembered for the artificial caves and arches that have been built to provide shelter and a sense of place. A small road runs through the park, providing access and parking, and garbage facilities are provided. There is also plenty of shade from some large pine trees.

Easy track

From cave-like shelters in Leura Cascades Picnic Area, this walk heads along the footpath, passing under the arch. Passing the toilet block, the path comes to the information board, from where the walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades Track’ sign down the steps. The path soon leads to a small stone wall with a view of some cascades and Chelmsford Bridge.
From the view of Chelmsford Bridge, this walk follows track downhill, keeping the handrail and creek to the left, soon coming to an intersection with ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ just before a footbridge.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign down the steps, keeping the handrail and creek to the right. After a short while, the walk heads along a timber platform and down some stairs to a rock platform, with great views of some cascades.
From these cascades, the walk heads down more stairs, coming to an intersection just before two bridges, with great views of Leura Cascades.

Leura Cascades

Leura Cascades is a lovely set of waterfalls with some bridges just below, allowing walkers to get up close to the creek. The area has a nice feel about it and is quite cool in summer. Much of the track near the cascades has handrails and the bridges are fenced. Allow some time to enjoy life among the cascades and fern trees in this valley. One bridge leads to a sandstone cave next to the pool and falls, a great place to enjoy the small section of canyon.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the bottom of Leura Cascades, this walk crosses the bridge (furthest from the falls), heads down the steps and comes to a fenced (unsignposted) lookout at the top of Bridal Veil Falls.
From the lookout, the walk heads up the steep steps. The steps wind up the hill passing a cave with an old bench seat, then up the metal stairs to the fenced (unsignposted) round walk lookout with views down on Bridal Veil Falls.Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk heads up the metal staircases then along the fenced cliff ledge, with more great valley views. Soon the track heads down a few steps to come to a a four-way intersection, with a sign pointing back to ‘Leura Cascades’ (and the short left-hand track leading to a fenced (unnamed) lookout.

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Round Walk – Echo Point’ sign along the track up the hill (with rock wall initially on the right). The track winds up the hill using the steps and, after passing a large gum, the track become less steep. Soon the track leads to an intersection with the signposted ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’.

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the sign along the ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’ towards ‘Leura Cascades’, taking the higher track. The track heads along the side of the hill to come to a three-way intersection, just after passing a rock wall on the left.

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track away from the rocks down the narrow spur. The track soon comes to a rusty fence that leads to the signposted ‘Majestic Lookout’ and then down some steps to the lower platform. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

Majestic Lookout

Majestic Lookout is a fenced lookout on a side track from the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, just above Leura Cascades. The lookout provides great (perhaps even majestic) views out through the top of the valley, with Mount Solitary nicely framed by the cliff line. The closest access to the lookout is from Leura Cascades Picnic Area, and is visited as part of the Leura Cascades Circuit.

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk steps up over a few rocks to keep the main rock outcrop on the left (and the valley and waterfall on the right). The track soon passes a small overhang with a bench seat, and gently winds along the side of the hill. After heading down the stairs, the track come to a ‘T’ intersection, with a handrail and a sign pointing back up to ‘Echo Point’.Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Picnic Area’ sign up the gentle hill, keeping the handrail and creek on the right. The track soon comes to a stone wall with a view of some cascades and Chelmsford Bridge.
From the view of Chelmsford Bridge, this walk heads up the steps, following the path past an information board, toilet and under the arch to come to Leura Cascades Picnic Area.

Maps for the Round Walk- (Leura Cascades Loop) walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Round Walk- (Leura Cascades Loop)

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

844 m

Time

30 mins

.

Grade 3/6

Moderate track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Short steep hills (3/6)

Quality of track

Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

540m of this walk has short steep hills and another 260m has gentle hills with occasional steps. The remaining (45m) is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 660m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 180m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 820m of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 20m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 660m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 180m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 670m of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 170m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.

Infrastructure

Around 520m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 330m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Round Walk- (Leura Cascades Loop) walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-bmnp-lcl
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.